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Maintaining Strong Tailings Management Governance at Rainy River

Safe and effective management of a mine’s tailings facility requires significant expertise and oversight. At Rainy River, the safe design, construction, operation, and monitoring of the Tailings Management Area (TMA) is a priority and is critical to our success. As part of this commitment, New Gold works with an Independent Tailings Review Board (ITRB) who work to ensure Rainy River’s TMA is operated effectively, helping to manage potential impacts to human health, the environment and the local community. The qualifications of the ITRB members include a mix of regulatory knowledge, technical expertise, and industry experience, and are recognized industry professionals with significant experience in mining and tailings management.

Each fall, ITRB members visit the Rainy River Mine to conduct direct observation of operations, construction, and maintenance activities. This in-person visit supplements an annual virtual meeting each spring. These opportunities for independent review are an essential component of risk management, providing the opportunity for independent experts in geochemistry, geotechnical engineering, hydrology, and hydrogeology to identify potential risks and opportunities. Third-party independent review is a cornerstone of New Gold’s approach to tailings management, and is outlined in the Tailings Management Strategy Statement.

“Third-party oversight of our tailings facilities is a critical element of effective tailings management, ensuring compliance with industry best practices, and the safe operation of our facilities,” said Sam Amiralaei, Senior Tailings Dam Engineer. “It’s an opportunity not only to enhance our practices even further, but also demonstrates our commitment to responsible mining practices.”

During the four-day visit this October, members from the ITRB along with New Gold staff and representatives from SRK Consultants, the TMA’s Engineer of Record, as well as Maven Water & Environment for water treatment and Okane Consultants for geochemistry and closure participated in reviews of a TMA construction update, design overview, Stage 7 dam raise design, dust control, and risk register. The review of these—and many other aspects—helps to verify that Rainy River’s tailings management system complies with relevant laws, regulations and industry standards. Any recommendations or findings from the ITRB are reported to site management and New Gold leadership.

“I thoroughly enjoy our bi-annual ITRB meetings as an opportunity for our site staff and consultants to engage with industry experts and implement continuous improvement into our practices,” said Jason Bell, Capital Projects Manager at Rainy River Mine. “We were able to successfully close a number of previous recommendations and have begun actioning the new recommendations from the ITRB.” The dialogue and learnings also encourage continuous improvement in tailings management practices based on new research, technologies and lessons learned.